Biofilm Bacteria and Their Mechanisms to Evade Host Cell Defenses

Bacteria that exist in communities called biofilms are more resistant to antibiotics, chemical disinfectants, and host
defenses.Lauren Bylsma worked with Professor Arlene Hoogewerf to use bacterial and cell culture methods to grow bacteria and macrophages, and use fluorescent
and biochemical methods to examine the effects of mediators released from one cell type on the growth of the other cell
type. In addition, students will examine transposon mutants and transformed bacterial strains to determine which gene
products interact with host cell mediators. This work will contribute to a better understanding of how biofilm bacteria are
better able to resist host defenses and cause recalcitrant infections.